En-route to New Delhi with PH-SAD for lease to Indian Airlines. Unfortunately this aircraft was W/O two months later on 7th February 1966 when it crashed into a mountain in the Banihal Pass, India. Sadly the 4 crew and 33 passengers lost their lives.

From my log book:- There was some mystery over this a/c as it was supposed to have landed at Dubai A/P. Usually access to an aircraft was granted by the pilot or crew but they wouldn't allow me onboard this one........I wondered why? Later learned that it was impounded at Karachi A/P in August of the same year for allegedly being used in a "gun-running" operation! Apparently it lay derelict at the airport for many years until taken on by the Pakistan Air Force Museum to be refurbished and put on display.

"Air Transport Command" on u/c fairing & 436 Sqn badge just in front of open access door.

Another Mecom Oil aircraft to regularly visit. Plate on aircraft read :- "C-46D-10-CU Serial 44-77572. Converted 2nd November 1961 by L.B. Smith, Miami, Florida. Overhauled by Grand Central Airport Co. Later to CP-1077. Withdrawn from use in the early 1980s and stored at San Borja, Bolivia. Last noted there in December 1989, fate unclear.

Mecom Oil Company's fourth aircraft to visit RAF Sharjah during my posting there was this beautifully kept Lodestar.

The Pembroke C.1 aircraft based at Muharraq belonged to 152 Sqn 'B' Flight.

Aircraft on detachment from Khormaksar, Aden. A 30 Sqd Beverly's fins just visible above the fuselage.

Another Mecom Oil Co. aircraft to visit Sharjah. Appears to have had a new rudder fitted. Built as a B-23 converted to UC-67. Plate in cabin read:- "Serial No. AC 39-59 of order AC9977. Date accepted 8th Sept. 1940"

Sharjah was used extensively for "Armament Practice Camps" using a local range. This a/c carries the name of the 208 Sqd Commanding Officer "Wg/Cdr D.J.Rhodes, AFM" under the cockpit. Note the well worn paintwork.

152 Sqd. "B" Flight with their "TwinPins" were based at RAF Sharjah. C/n plate in cabin had the build date as 26th June 1958. The 152 Sqd marking is under the cockpit window.

105 Squadron aircraft based at RAF Khormaksar, Aden. Carries Royal Air Force Middle East titles. In the background is a based 152 Sqd (B Flight) Twin Pioneer CC.1

A nice civilian visitor staging through the Gulf.

JATO fit to the C-82 of the Mecom Oil Co.

Owned by the Mecom Oil Co. their aircraft were fairly frequent visitors to RAF Sharjah. Fitted with JATO bottles. Was initially deliverd to the USAAF as a C82A-FA as 45-57780.

On delivery to Australia. ATC in background now part of the "Al Hatta" museum

Photo' taken from the balcony of RAF Sharjah ATC which is now part of the "Al Hatta" museum in the middle of the city. A/c was previously LN-LMT( SAS) & SU-MMC(United Arab A/L's) Scrapped Damascus circa 1974.

Unexpected visitor to RAF Sharjah. Diverted in with 'cracked' exhaust manifold on one engine (landed on three). After repairs took off the next day at 0600 hrs, en route to Tahiti. From GAM (Groupe Aérien Mixte) 82. F-RBPS was its 'call sign.'

VIP fit. Named "Meghaduta II" in English and Hindi underneath cockpit window. Arr.1140. Night stopover leaving at 1030 on the 1st. Used entire runway length to get airborne, no doubt due to all of the solid oak panelling used in the cabin! The RAF left in 1971 when the "Trucial States" became the United Arab Emirates, the airfield becoming the Emirates International Airport until the new one was opened in 1977. King Abdul Aziz Street is built on the old runway. The ATC, a hangar and the old fort used by Imperial Airways are now incorporated in the "Al Mahatta" museum.

This Skeeter is in storage as of 2020.